Athletic Bilbao defender Yeray Alvarez has been suspended for 10 months by UEFA after a doping test revealed the presence of a banned substance. The 30-year-old tested positive for Canrenone following Athletic Bilbao's 3-0 defeat to Manchester United in the Europa League semi-final in May. Canrenone is listed as a diuretic and masking agent on WADA's 2025 Prohibited List.

UEFA's statement on Monday, September 8, 2025, confirmed Alvarez's suspension, retroactive to his voluntary provisional suspension date of June 2, 2025. As a result, he will be ineligible to play until April 2, 2026. However, he is permitted to return to training with the team or utilize club facilities from February 2, 2026, during the final two months of his suspension.

Alvarez addressed the situation in July, explaining that the positive test stemmed from unintentionally taking medication for hair loss that contained a banned substance. He has been using the medicine as part of his treatment for alopecia, a condition he has been managing since his recovery from testicular cancer in 2017.

UEFA acknowledged Alvarez's explanation that the contamination was accidental and that he had no intention of using performance-enhancing drugs. However, they emphasized that athletes are responsible for their conduct and must verify that any medication they take is permissible under anti-doping regulations. Had UEFA not accepted Alvarez's explanation, the ban could have been longer than 10 months.

Yeray Álvarez López, born on January 24, 1995, has been with Athletic Bilbao since joining their youth setup in 2008. He debuted with the first team in 2016 and has made over 200 appearances for the club, becoming a key player in their defense. In 2017, he bravely battled testicular cancer, returning to the field after undergoing treatment and becoming an inspiration to many.

Despite the suspension, Athletic Bilbao will participate in the Champions League this season after finishing fourth in the Spanish league.